8 HR leaders to follow on LinkedIn

We're shining a spotlight on the trailblazers shaping the landscape of HR that you should connect with and follow. LinkedIn is the go-to platform for industry insights, trends, and networking opportunities.

In this blog, we've curated a list of 8 HR leaders who are making waves in their respective domains, whether it's talent acquisition, diversity and inclusion, employee engagement, or organisational development. These individuals have not only demonstrated remarkable proficiency in navigating the complexities of the HR field but have also established themselves as thought leaders, sharing invaluable insights, strategies, and best practices with their extensive networks.

From seasoned veterans with decades of experience to rising stars revolutionising traditional HR, our selection encompasses a diverse array of perspectives, backgrounds, and expertise. 

Get ready to be inspired, informed, and empowered by the visionaries shaping the future of HR…

‍#1 Tanuj Kapilashrami

Tanuj Kapilashrami is the Group Head of Human Resources at Standard Chartered Bank. She advocates a skills-led approach to talent and is a regular keynote speaker. She is also an Associate Non-Executive Director of the Board of NHS England, advising the NHS on its workforce transformation agenda. Tanuj has also previously served as a Board member of the UK Financial Services Skills Commission. 

Follow Tanuj to learn about: skills-first practices and how organisations are embedding a skills-based approach to hire, develop, and grow talent. 

We loved this post on the ‘Lead from Within’ podcast, where Tanuj discusses how wellbeing is a core human skill that can be learned, developed, and measured.

#2 Nikki Humphrey

Nikki Humphrey is the Chief People Officer at Virgin Group, leading on critical areas such as wellbeing, future of work, talent development, human leadership, and inclusion. Nikki was previously Chief People Officer at John Lewis Partnership. She was also Chief People Officer at Virgin Atlantic for 4 years, where she was a member of the Virgin Atlantic Foundation, which focuses on encouraging girls into STEM education. 

Follow Nikki to learn about: The diverse range of purposeful programmes that Virgin Group delivers to inspire and support employees and benefit the community. 

We enjoyed reading Nikki’s post about why the people working at Virgin Media O2 are its secret sauce.

‍#3 Steve Foulger

Steve Foulger is Commercial HR Director at Connor, leading the organisational design and HR services area of the business. He has previously held a range of C-suite roles, and has led and supported teams in businesses ranging from 10 people to 70,000 people, both domestically and internationally. Steve has regularly presented at key industry events, including DisruptHR London and the National Recruitment Show.

Follow Steve to learn about: Topical and inspirational views on HR - quite often with a sporting angle!

We loved Steve’s post on resiliency in HR, where he shares the quote ‘Sometimes those trying to bring you down, don’t realise you are part of the reason they are still standing.’

#4 Uzair Qadeer

Uzair Qadeer is the Chief People Officer at BBC. He oversees global HR capabilities across the BBC Group and is responsible for driving the BBC’s short- and long-term employee experience, cultural transformation, and organisational change through the people agenda. Previously, Uzair held numerous leadership roles, including in Deloitte’s Human Capital Consulting practice where he advised clients across various industries and geographies.

Follow Uzair to learn about: How the BBC is transforming HR into a people experience function and elevating its D&I work.

We loved Uzair’s post on Children in Need and the £10M fund commitment, over 10 years, to create and invest in opportunities for black children and young people across the UK.

#5 Tiger de Souza

Tiger de Souza is Executive Director of People and Culture at Samaritans. He previously served as People Engagement Director at the National Trust. His career has also seen him hold positions at Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors, NSPCC, and England Netball. Tiger is currently a Trustee for the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) and Charity HR Network. He was awarded an MBE in the 2021 New Year’s Honours list for services to volunteering.

Follow Tiger to learn about: The role that job shares can and should play in the future of work.  

Hear more about Tiger’s passion for job sharing in this post, where he explains its massively untapped potential.

#6 Sarah Blake

Sarah Blake is the Chief People Officer at TalkTalk, leading the people agenda and driving the talent agenda to create diverse teams. Sarah was previously TalkTalk’s Human Resources Director, where she oversaw the HR strategy for the Consumer and B2B organisations. Over the past 2 decades Sarah has acquired extensive experience in sectors including hospitality, manufacturing, and energy. 

Follow Sarah to learn about: Inspirational insights into leadership and culture transformation.

‍Sarah's post on her podcast with Doctor Jaqueline Conway discusses culture and change. They explore the executive team's role in leading well during these critical times in a company's lifecycle.

#7 Graeme Johnson

Graeme Johnson is Group Director, Talent, Leadership & Learning at Merlin Entertainments. During his time at Merlin and previous roles including Virgin Media, Entain, and BT, Graeme has acquired a reputation for developing and leading high-performing, highly engaged teams, and implementing impactful, transformational change. Graeme also has experience as a keynote speaker, panelist, and awards judge.  

Follow Graeme to learn about: How to become a successful leader and identify and develop leadership qualities in others. 

We liked Graeme’s post about how to design impactful leadership experiences and how Merlin approach it.

#8 Phoebe Garfinkel

Phoebe Garfinkel is Head of HR at AstraZeneca. She was previously the Director of Talent & Development at the BioPharmaceuticals Business Unit (BBU), where she improved the quality and diversity of the talent pipeline and worked across functions and geographies to ensure world-class learning opportunities for employees. Before joining AstraZeneca, Phoebe spent 6 years as the Director of Organisational Development at Teach For All. 

Follow Phoebe to learn about: How AstraZeneca is fostering inclusivity and equity, including through its apprenticeship programmes. 

In her International Women’s Day post, Phoebe reminded us of AZUK’s commitment to creating an environment where everyone feels included and has a sense of belonging.

Learn from HR leaders at our networking sessions

If you want to take HR leadership lessons to the next level, you’ll want to learn about Spotted Zebra’s Skills Leaders Network.

Our sessions gather senior HR leaders to discuss skills-based talent strategies, connecting like-minded professionals to facilitate the sharing of best practices, case studies, and trends. 

If you’d like to benefit from the trusted, high-quality insight surfaced during these events, register by clicking on the banner below.